Conglutinate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kəŋˈɡluːtɪneɪt/

Definitions

1. To stick or cause to stick together, especially by means of a sticky or adhesive substance
2. To bond or unite elements into a cohesive whole through adhesion or sticking agents
3. To cause various components to adhere closely together as if they were one, often using a strong adhesive

Etymology: "Conglutinate" is built from Latin "conglūtināre," meaning "to glue together," formed from "com-" ("together") and "glūtināre" ("to glue"), which itself comes from "glūten," the Latin word for glue. The English verb descends from Middle English "conglutinaten," used of wounds and broken bones that knit or close up, as well as, figuratively, of things being fastened or united. That medical sense is the original picture: a healing wound was literally being glued shut from the inside. The word's meaning has stayed close to that origin. Its more abstract sense, of joining separate parts into one whole, grew from the same physical image of adhesion. The word is also related to "gluten," which keeps the same ancient Latin root for glue.